Paris (AFP)
French wine production should fall from 24% to 30% in 2021 and be at a “historically low” level due in particular to the severe episode of spring frost, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Friday.
The April frost also seriously affected French fruit trees, in particular apricots, whose 2021 harvest should be halved, compared to the 2016-2020 average, according to estimates as of August 1 by the statistics service of the ministry, Agreste. .
It would be the worst harvest in 42 years.
The wine harvest is also expected to be affected by grapevine diseases such as powdery mildew and mildew, favored by the rainy summer weather.
It should be between 32.6 million and 35.6 million hectoliters, according to Agreste.
"The 2021 wine production is forecast to be historically low, lower than those of 1991 and 2017 also affected by a severe frost in spring," notes the ministry.
The April frost seriously affected French fruit trees, in particular apricots, whose 2021 harvest should be halved compared to the 2016-2020 average PHILIPPE DESMAZES AFP / Archives
"For now, the yield would be close to that of 1977, the year when the wine harvest was reduced by a destructive frost and summer precipitation," he continues.
The drop in production between 1977 and 2021 is the consequence of a regular reduction in wine-growing areas between these two dates, he explains.
Regarding apricots, the 2021 production is estimated at 56,000 tonnes, down 35% over one year and 54% compared to the five-year average, which refers to agriculture.
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